‘Deadpool’ Actor Karan Soni Lands Lead Role in Andrew Sandler’s Thriller ‘Fade to Black’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Karan Soni (“Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse”) has been tapped for the lead role in Andrew Sandler’s upcoming thriller “Fade to Black.”

Soni joins fellow cast members Katerina Tannenbaum (“Better Call Saul”), Max Carver (“The Batman”), Rafael Casal (“Loki”), Gavin Leatherwood (“It’s What’s Inside”), Joseph Lee (“Beef”), John Carroll Lynch (“American Horror Story”) and Zosia Mamet (“The Flight Attendant”) for Sandler’s narrative feature debut. Sandler has directed music videos for artists including Blink-182, Justin Bieber, Machine Gun Kelly and Ariana Grande. Production in Los Angeles is expected to begin in October.

Per the official logline, “‘Fade to Black’ follows Amit (Soni) as he navigates the horrors of trying to break into the twisted business of Hollywood. After an accidental death spurs a sinister epiphany, the screenwriter starts committing the murders of his script’s fictional serial killer in a desperate attempt to generate the IP necessary to get his movie made. The film promises a darkly comedic exploration of ambition, madness, and the brutal reality of the entertainment industry.”

“Talent has responded to the material in a really exciting way and I am beyond thrilled to collaborate with such an extraordinary group of artists for my first narrative feature film,” said Sandler. “Each member of the ensemble is bringing their own unique flair to this world, which will only continue to elevate the incredible script Brandon has crafted. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Soni’s other credits include films like “A Nice Indian Boy,” “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “Paper Flowers,” and “Strange World,” as well as television shows like “Abbott Elementary,” “Miracle Workers” and “The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib.”

The screenplay, which was discovered on The Black List site, is by Danny Hamouie and Brent Craft. Paul Scanlan and David Baxter will produce through the Legion M banner alongside Craft, under Craftsmen Media Co., and Andrew Carlberg. Randall Einhorn, Danny Hamouie and Jeff Annison will serve as executive producers.

Soni is repped by CAA and Mosaic. Tannenbaum is repped by Buchwald and Circle Management + Production. Carver is repped by Cultivate Entertainment. Sandler is repped by UTA and Luber Roklin. Casal is repped by CAA and Brillstein. Leatherwood is repped by Entertainment 360. Lee is repped by Gersh, Anonymous Content, and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern. Mamet is repped by UTA and Sugar23. Lynch is repped by Suskin/Karshan Management and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham.